Sumario: 14 June 2007, Brussels- The negotiations between the EU and the Andean Community for a comprehensive Association Agreement between both regions will be launched today in Tarija (Bolivia) at the 17th meeting of the Presidents of the Andean Community. The Association Agreement is envisaged as a comprehensive agreement, embracing the whole array of the multifaceted relations of the EU with the Andean Community. Its objective is to enhance the political dialogue between both regions, to intensify and improve their co-operation in a vast variety of areas and to enhance and facilitate bi-regional trade and investments. The European Commission will negotiate the agreement on behalf of the EU.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, said on this occasion: "This is a very important step forward in our relations. Reinforcing our links with an ambitious Association Agreement has been a longstanding political objective for both regions and I am very pleased that we both are now ready to start the negotiations." And she adds: "We are natural partners and closer ties with the Andean Community will contribute to a stronger
partnership, both politically and economically. Today's decision shows the EU's standing commitment to the Andean region as well as the importance that the Andean countries attach to strengthening relations with the EU".
The Agreement will be negotiated on a 'region-to-region' basis in order to provide further impetus to the regional integration process in the Andean Community, as this is a key to foster stability, progress and economic and sustainable development in the region to the benefit of all its citizens. It will also help to insert this region in the world economy by developing larger and more stable economies able to attract investment.
Tomás Duplá del Moral, Director for Latin America in the European Commission, will attend the launching on behalf of the European Commission.
The European Commission adopted recently an aid package of some €713 million for the period 2007-2013 to assist the region and its countries to address the most important challenges they face. In this respect, Benita Ferrero-Waldner underlined: "The future agreement as well as the future co-operation activities aim at supporting the Andean countries' efforts to increase levels of social cohesion by fighting poverty and exclusion. It also shows the willingness to work together on issues
such as good governance, institution building and sustainable development."
Message from the Commissioner to the Andean Summit at (in Spanish): SPEECH/07/395
For more information on the relations between the EU and the Andean Community:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/andean/intro/index.htm
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